4 Best Beef For Carne Asada: How To Choose The Right Beef Cut To Avoid Tough Carne Asada?

Carne Asada is a popular Mexican beef dish that can be served in different ways.

To make the best Carne Asada, besides the seasoning and cooking method, it is important to have a right and good cut of beef.

If you are wondering what cut of beef is best for a Carne Asada, our article will help.

Read on to find out all the interesting facts about this Mexican delicacy.

How to choose beef for Carne Asada?

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Carne Asada is an easy but fantastic dish, but the beef you use in the recipe can make or break your dish.

Here are our tips to choose the best beef for Carne Asada:

1. Choose a cut of beef that is well-marbled

A well-marbled cut of beef is perfect for a Carne Asada.

The marbling fat is just enough to make the meat juicier and more flavorful on the grill without making your beef cut too greasy.

2. Buy a fresh cut of beef for Carne Asada

Another tip to choose beef for Carne Asada is to buy a fresh cut of beef instead of a frozen or stale one.

Fresh beef is always the best choice, and people just come to a frozen cut of meat in case there is no fresh cut left on the market.

A fresh cut of beef will have a better texture and flavor, and it can be found in most local butcher shops, grocery stores, or supermarkets.

3. A tender cut of beef works better than a tough cut

To have tender strips of beef, you should start with a tender cut rather than a tough beef cut.

A tough cut with a lot of connective tissues like a chuck roast or short ribs is better for a wet-heat cooking method like stewing or pot roast because the meat will be tenderized after hours of cooking.

Grilling is considered a quick-cooking technique, so a moderately tender to tender cut of beef works better in this case.

Best beef for Carne Asada

Now, let’s break down the best cuts of beef for making Carne Asada.

The following beef cuts can be easily found in most local butcher shops or grocery stores throughout the country:

1. Skirt steak

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A skirt steak is often considered one of the best cuts for grilling or stir-frying recipes.

This cut is prized for its intensely beefy flavor and can be tender when quickly cooked.

A skirt steak is relatively thin so it only takes minutes to have a hearty and delicious dish from this cut.

The best way to cook a skirt steak is by pan-searing it on both sides until you get nice grill marks before finishing it up with some kind of sauce.

2. Flank steak

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A flank steak is often compared to the skirt steak and is used interchangeably in many recipes.

These cuts are not too tender like a tenderloin, but not too tough like a chuck or round roast.

When thinly sliced, they are tender enough to satisfy any taste buds.

A flank steak is relatively lean, therefore, don’t overcook this cut or you might end up with a dry and chewy meat dish.

One tip to have a tender dish from a flank steak is to use a marinade, either homemade or store-bought, to marinate the meat before cooking.

3. Beef tenderloin

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If you want a tender cut for your Carne Asada, beef tenderloin is an ideal choice.

This is a desirable cut that every home cook or professional chef wants to have in their kitchens.

Beef tenderloin is the leanest and also the most tender cut of beef.

It is sold at a higher price than the average cut and is often served in high-end restaurants.

Grilling a tenderloin just takes a few minutes, and it is best to serve this cut medium-rare so that you can feel the natural sweetness and juiciness of the meat.

4. Top sirloin steak

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Our last suggestion for the best beef for Carne Asada is a top sirloin steak.

This cut is more affordable than a tenderloin but is still one of the top cuts of beef that is pricier than the average.

Top sirloin is a lean cut but can become a fork-tender if properly cooked.

The bottom line

The best Carne Asada comes from having the right cut of meat.

The beef should be juicy, tender, and flavorful when served.

You can choose among different steak cuts like skirt steak, flank steak, and top sirloin steak, or a high-quality and expensive cut like beef tenderloin.

Try the aforementioned ideas to find out what cut of beef makes the best Mexican Carne Asada.